Labor Day has passed and I actually experienced a chill a few days ago. Conclusion? Time to bake with pumpkin!
These are pretty outside the norm. Their consistency is similar to a fudgy brownie, but the taste is pure autumn. Sure, I threw in some chocolate chips, but who could resist that?
In order to inaugurate the coming cooling temps, here we go with pumpkin chocolate chip bars. Let’s grab some spiced cider and run with it!
Having Monday off was such a great treat. We went to the D.C. arboretum, which is this amazingly beautiful place. There are great views, lots of bonsai trees, and most awe-inspiring, the columns of the original Capitol Building. They’re pretty cool.
We decided to take the kids with their scooters. Scooters are kind of amazing if kids can do them right, which my oldest is getting good at. His control is really improving, which is awesome, because the last time he wiped out on his scooter, he screamed for hours. Hours. And he kept insisting that we take him to a hospital. It was not a happy day.
Now he’s fine, and the girls are learning. My middle kid can do it for a while, but not long. The youngest will literally step onto her scooter for about point five seconds before she steps right off and demands to go “uppy.” How we love carrying both a scooter and a four year-old at the same time. If that’s not a recipe for back trouble, I don’t know what is.
Still, it was a beautiful day, and people kept watching the kids on their scooters and smiling at us. It sure beat a day of endless toil, which makes that whole Labor Day holiday name ironic every year.
When we got home from the arboretum, I was tired, thirsty and hungry from all that scooter and kid carrying. Luckily, these bars were on hand to keep me happy.
If we’re talking easy recipes to get your fall rolling, here we are! These can be made in one bowl. Just be sure to cool your melted butter, or you’ll wind up scrambling your egg and that translates to starting all over. Nobody likes that.
This time of year, I like to have pumpkin pie spice on my shelf at all times. It’s such a versatile spice mix, and it always produces those great fall flavors. It also saves you the trouble of combining the spices on your own. Magic in a little bottle!
If you’re ready for fall, here comes the first of many pumpkin recipes. Start your engines!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars (GF)
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 3/4 cups oat flour (labeled gluten-free)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar and egg. Stir until well-combined. Add the vanilla and pumpkin and stir again.
- Mix the oat flour and spices together. Pour into the pumpkin mixture and stir until the dry ingredients are just incorporated.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes. Do not overbake.
- Cool and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.
3.1
http://justaboutbaked.com/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-bars-gf/
It’s been a bit cooler here in the mornings, although not the past few days. It’s been in the 90’s here lately, so the mornings are muggy and warm! But that’s ok…I’m still breaking out the pumpkin! Glad you had a good Labor Day, Mir! These bars look SO good! Chocolate and pumpkin were a match made in heaven!
It’s a HOT September so far. The chill is coming, though. I can feel it!
Mir, your Labor Day sounds like it was so fun!!! My youngest still can’t really ride her scooter. . or ride her bike without training wheels. . ah, yet another thing we didn’t get to this summer. . ah, well! I will focus on the small victories and the other things we did! 🙂 LOVE these pumpkin chocolate chip bars!!!! Hooray for pumpkin season!!! My fave!
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It’s always tough before they can actually do things. But when they can scoot and bike, it’s pretty cool!
Sounds like a perfect Labor day! You took me right back to our scooter days with the kids – love it!! This ‘pumpkin’ post makes me very happy! Fall is my favorite and I can hardly wait to decorate with pumpkins let alone cook with them! These sound delicious!!
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I love scooters. They’re so much fun!
These look and sound delicious, love that they have a fudgy brownie texture!
The texture is so irresistible, Rosie!
Starting my engines up for sure over here! I love me some good pumpkin spice! 🙂 In fact, I love it almost as much as scrambled egg bread. Wait. Just kidding. Seriously, though, these bars look awesome…and they most definitely would have made me happy as Labor Day kinda wore us out a bit this year. I need a batch of these in my kitchen this weekend!
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Scrambled egg bread? Is that like French toast? Sounds good!
I’m kind of crazy about pumpkin and eat it all year long – I just do it secretly. These bars look so perfect and delicious. I can’t think of a single reason not to add chocolate, but I do think you need a few more kids and scooters! 🙂
I think your secret pumpkin habit is adorable. Keep it up!
Sounds like you had a great Labor Day (minus the kid and scooter carrying), Mir! The D.C. arboretum sounds really pretty and if I ever make it up that way I’ll have to add it to my list of things to do! The weather got nice here for a couple days, but it’s back to HOT, but I’m still down for some fall baking! Especially if it only involves one bowl! Woot Woot! These bars look delicious! Love the consistency!! And the flavor sounds perfect! Cheers, dear!
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If you ever come out here, you’d BETTER LET ME KNOW! 🙂
haha, off with the white shoes and bring on the pumpkin! 🙂 these look awesome.
I’m gonna miss the white shoes.
I absolutely love using pumpkin pie spice mix, so much better than adding all the spices individually! Love the bars, it’s definitely time for pumpkin everything 🙂
It’s the best spice mix ever!
it’s great watching our kids scoot and bike, lovely moment. i’m glad you had great Labor day. making pumpkin is my favorite when i’m in college until now. xD thanks for your recipe my memories come back 🙂
seems like it’s a hot autumn but today is cooler, so enjoy it. have a nice day, Mir.
I love watching kids learn slowly to be independent. It’s so amazing. Thanks, Pat!
Mir, these look amazing! You know what – I would have gladly strummed along and done all the scooter and kid carrying if I could have had one of these! I’m trying to do this low sugar diet thing and I’m gonna have to try this recipe with some Stevia or some other sub – thanks so much for this one!
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Low sugar diets are rough, but use the Steva/sugar blend and this just might work!
Look yummy. I hope you will put the preparation time and cooking time on the top of your instruction (just below the food name), it will make your instructions more interesting, I think. I like this post, Mir.
Thanks, Sabrina!
Almost every week goes in a flash for me! I love Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
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